Money Crane Bookmark ($ Crane Bookmark)

money crane bookmark
This Money Crane Bookmark can be included with a book if you happen to be giving someone a book as a present. Why spend dollars bills to buy a bookmark when you can make a bookmark with the dollar bill itself?

This model is a union of new and old because the crane is a classic model seen throughout the history of paper folding; however, folding dollar bills is a relatively new trend.

Instructions for Money Crane Bookmark

money crane bookmark

Step 1:

Start with a crisp dollar bill with the black-side facing up.
Fold and unfold the dollar bill in half and then into quarters.
These pre-creases will be used later.
Rotate the money so it is vertical (up and down orientation).

dollar bill origami

Step 2:

Fold up the bottom-left corner as shown.

dollar bill origami
Unfold.

dollar bill origami

Step 3:

Repeat with the other side: fold up the bottom-right corner.

dollar bill origami
Unfold. You should see an X-shaped crease. Turn the dollar bill over.

dollar bill origami

Step 4:

Valley fold the bottom section of the dollar bill at the middle of the X.

dollar bill origami
Unfold and then turn over.

dollar bill origami

Step 5:

Collapse the dollar bill to form a waterbomb base. Do this by pinching the sides of the model as you lift up the bottom section.

dollar bill origami
In transition.

dollar bill origami

Step 6:

Lift the left flap and make a Squash Fold. To do this, lift the left-flap upwards.

dollar bill origami
Then press down the tip of the flap. Try to squash the paper evenly so it is the same size on both sides.

dollar bill origami

Step 7:

Fold in the top-left edge. This makes the section more narrow.

dollar bill origami

Step 8:

Fold one layer from right towards the left.

dollar bill origami

Step 9:

Repeat the Squash Fold on the right-flap: lift the flap up…

dollar bill origami
and squash down evenly.

dollar bill origami

Step 10:

Make the flap more narrow by folding in the top-right edge.

dollar bill origami

Step 11:

Fold one layer from the left back towards the right.

dollar bill origami

Step 12:

Repeat the narrowing process by folding in the top edges.

dollar bill origami

Step 13:

Make an inside reverse fold to create the head of the crane. See photos below.

dollar bill origami
Fold tip down to establish crease.

dollar bill origami dollar bill origami
Unfold and then refold so the layers are inside.
dollar bill origami

Step 14:

Mountain fold (fold behind) the bottom section of the model. The location of the fold should be half the height of the waterbomb base.

dollar bill origami

Step 15:

Using the creases made in step 1, fold in the left and right sides of the dollar bill. At the same time, pull down the crane section of the model.

dollar bill origami
In transition.

dollar bill origami
Almost done.

dollar bill origami
Turn over.

dollar bill origami
Money Crane Bookmark is done!

money crane bookmark
This is how the $ crane bookmark would look like had you started with the green-side of the dollar bill facing up.